Rankine engine with efficient heat exchange system

ABSTRACT

The rankine engine with efficient heat exchange system provides a rapidly rechargeable thermal energy storage bank operably connected to a heat engine capable of use in an electric power generation facility. Microwave energy is supplied to the system via a network of waveguides. Thermal storage bank has a slurry in a heat exchanger capable of sustaining operation of the engine without requiring the microwave source. The slurry provides a mixture of powdered stainless steel and silicone oils functioning as the working fluid in the hot side of the heat exchanger. The slurry may be heated by plugging the system into standard AC power for a predetermined microwave heat charging duration. A closed, triple-expansion, reciprocating Rankine cycle engine capable of operating under computer control via a high pressure micro-atomized steam working medium is provided to propel the vehicle. A variety of working fluids are capable of powering the Rankine cycle engine.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 12/149,670 filed May 6, 2008.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to heat exchangers, and particularly to aRankine engine with an efficient heat exchange system that may be used,e.g. to power a vehicle without expending non-renewable fuel (i.e.,traditional fossil, alcohol, hydrogen, soy or agriculturally based,etc), to power the engine.

2. Description of the Related Art

Chemical energy in the form of batteries has been used since the dawn ofautomotive history for storage of electrical energy required to operatethe automobile. Modern hybrid automobiles use the rechargeable energystorage system (RESS) with a small diesel or gas engine to turnelectrical generating equipment and battery banks. However, batteriesare not an optimal energy storage solution due to their poor charge timeto discharge ratios and their toxicity upon disposal.

Microwave radiation has proven to be efficient at heating powderedmetals in the sintering process, since powdered metal offers minimumreflectivity. Certain stainless steel alloys exhibit tremendous heatcapacity, nearly that of water. Powdered metal in an oil, anothersemi-viscous media, to produce a slurry may provide a substantialimprovement over current thermal energy storage technology becausemicrowave energy is capable of heating the permeable powderedmetal/silicone oil or similarly engineered heat retentive slurry inminutes, instead of the hours and significant expense of batteryrecharging.

The ability to charge the working fluid of a heat exchanger in minutesinstead of hours charging and maintaining/exchanging/replacing batteriesmay be highly appreciated as current technology hybrid vehicle accruemileage and extended usage in the real world environment.

Recharging locations may become as universal as current refuelingstations. Thermal energy storage is an ideal scenario from an energyusage standpoint, and a direction that is currently and technologicallypractical to explore.

Thus, a rankine engine with efficient heat exchange system solving theaforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The Rankine engine with efficient heat exchange system has a rapidlyrechargeable thermal energy storage bank operably connected to a heatengine capable of propelling a vehicle. Microwave energy is supplied tothe system via a network of waveguides.

The thermal storage bank comprises a slurry in a heat exchanger capableof sustaining operation of the engine without requiring constantpowering of the microwave source. The slurry provides a mixture of acompressed powdered metal/ceramic matrix and silicone oils/heatretentive viscous media functioning as the working fluid in the hot sideof the heat exchanger. The slurry may be heated (thermally enabled) byplugging the system into standard AC power for a predetermined microwavecharging duration.

A closed, highly insulated, triple-expansion, reciprocating Rankinecycle engine capable of operating under the computer control via a highpressure micro-atomized steam working medium is provided to propel thevehicle. A variety of working fluids are capable of powering the Rankinecycle engine.

These and other features of the present invention will become readilyapparent upon further review of the following specification anddrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a Rankine engine with efficient heat exchangesystem according to the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a partial diagrammatic sectional view of heat exchangerinternal components of the Rankine engine with efficient heat exchangesystem according to the present invention, showing general layout ofcomponents and internal geometric configuration of the assembly.

FIG. 2B is a partial diagrammatic sectional view of heat exchangercomponents of the Rankine engine with efficient heat exchange systemaccording to the present invention exchanging heat and producing workinggas during operation of the engine.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic top view of an automobile equipped with aRankine engine with efficient heat exchange system according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view of an enroute charging system for aRankine engine with efficient heat exchange system according to thepresent invention.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistentlythroughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown if FIGS. 1, 2A and 2B, the present invention relates to aRankine engine with efficient heat exchange system having a quicklyrechargeable thermal energy bank with a slurry S circulating through anenergy storage heat exchanger 60, wherein the slurry S can be rapidlyheated by electromagnetic energy in the form of microwave heating. Themicrowave energy may be supplied to the system via a network ofwaveguide/heat exchange gasifier tubes 200 and waveguideinterconnections 205 a and 205 b.

The microwave source may include, but is not limited to, at least onemagnetron tube 55 that can be coupled to the waveguide network atwaveguide interconnection 205 a. The magnetron 55 can be charged bytime/distance of operation desired, i.e., a commuter trip may beestimated for travel time or calculated by GPS for distance. Undercomputer control, a high pressure fed-finely atomized working fluiddispersed tangentially into a favorable low pressure environment createdand enhanced through velocity/pressure trade-off enabling geometry heatexchanging gasifier tubes ensuring a minimum amount of stored thermalenergy be drawn from the system under normal operation regime to achievethe trip with safety reserve. Since the magnetron(s) 55 may be a part ofthe onboard system 50, thermal recharging stations could be locatedconveniently at place of employment or popular destinations, enroutesmart-rail recharging, as well as regenerative braking in a feedbackloop. The ability of the magnetron 55 to deliver the energy quicklyprecludes time and energy consuming recharging periods.

The thermal energy storage of a slurry S in heat exchanger 60 cansustain operation of a Rankine cycle engine 108 to operate a vehicle forextended periods of time without a constant or direct connection to anelectrical power grid, while retaining the potential to be quickly andconveniently recharged enroute if necessary.

The slurry S is an engineered slurry comprising, for example, highlyrefined micro-powdered stainless steel and finely powdered ceramicmaterials in a viscous or semi-viscous mixture combined withsilicone-based oils or in combination with other suitable materials ofhigh heat capacity such as clays or salts which may repeatedly absorb,retain, and disperse the waveguide supplied microwave energy. Heatretentive viscous fluid, of high heat capacity, such as a silicone basedoils, or aforementioned engineered slurry is capable of functioning asthe thermal energy supply fluid in the hot side of the heat exchanger60. Some degree of viscosity is preferred in the engineered slurry S sothat the slurry S can be slowly pumped through or directly heated by thepermeable matrix containing the waveguide connections in order to bringit up to (and maintain for extended periods) the maximum possiblestorage of heat energy (without significant outgassing). The viscousnature of the slurry is ideal for maximum heat transfer to the workingfluid, while limiting deleterious oxidation events to the primarymatrix. Liquid ceramics, liquefied metals, clays, or salts may be usedin place of silicone oils as the optimum engineered thermal energyretention fluid. The stored thermal energy produces the last percentageof conversion of the pre-heated engine working fluid (preheated by firstcirculating, via preheat line 105 b, proximate the slurry in heatexchanger 60) to the working gas as produced in the changingcross-section tubes 95 of heat exchanger 60. The cross-sectionalgeometric change is intended to facilitate the vapor phasetransformation through localized reduction of withdrawn thermal energyrequirements from the thermal reservoir.

Insulation is provided in order to maintain the slurry S at sufficienttemperature to effect the conversion, and can comprise a plurality oflayers of zirconium applied by plasma-spray process, over which severalinches of ceramic-based insulation could be applied. Vacuum chambers,other thermal barriers, etc., may be introduced into the layers ofinsulation in order to reduce radiated heat from the entire device to anegligible level.

Preferably the heat exchanger 60, including gasifier tubes 95, isconstructed primarily of an austenitic nickel-base superalloy, such asInconel®, or other typically high temperature-resistant material,high-nickel content, superhigh performance alloy, such as Hastelloy® orthe like, capable of withstanding the long duration elevatedtemperatures of the slurry S. The heat exchanger operates to drawthermal energy from the heated slurry S, which may either thermosiphonedor, alternatively, may be mechanically pumped across a plurality ofshaped diffuser tubes 95. The advantage of the powdered metal, orpermeable powdered metal/ceramic matrix coincident to the slurry S isthe ability to be heated almost instantly to extreme temperatures by thesupplied microwave energy. Powdered materials absorb microwave energyreadily, as they display huge cumulative surface area and lowcoefficients of reflectivity. The engineering of a strategicallypositioned permanently permeable matrix composed of a mixture ofcompressed powdered materials, both ceramic and metal based, providesufficient waveguide conductivity to repeatedly heat within a nearpercentage of solidification/coalescence, while retaining capability ofefficient heat transfer to slowly circulating heat retentive slurry.

The quantity of slurry S in the base of the heat exchanger 60 issufficient to ensure adequate thermal energy transfer in order tooperate the engine 108, which is capable of operating via a highpressure micro-atomized steam working medium. The slurry S may be heatedby plugging the system into standard AC power for a predeterminedheat-charging duration, or, alternatively, by utilizing an enroute railcharging system while the vehicle is on the road.

As shown in FIG. 3, the Rankine engine with efficient heat exchangesystem comprises on-board microwave generator 55 (OBMWG) connected tothe heat exchanger via waveguide interconnection 205 a. High temperatureslurry pump 65 slowly pumps the slurry S via slurry supply line 70through “hot” side of heat exchanger 60. The slurry S recirculates backto the slurry pump 65 via slurry return line 75. In actual practice, theslurry reservoir and the heat exchanger can be most efficientlyconstructed and thermally insulated as a single integral unit.

As shown in FIGS. 2A-2B, the waveguide interconnection 205A in the heatexchanger 60 joins an enclosed, circular, heat transfer/waveguidecontinuation tube 200 that is disposed concentrically within theinternally hourglass shaped gasifier tube 95. Tube 200 acts as a centralconductor of thermal energy, an axis about which the finely atomizedworking fluid is dispersed. Atomized working fluid is thusly exposed tothe maximum possible area of heat exchanger wall surface area to promoteefficient heat transfer.

There may be plurality of such gasifier tubes 95 disposed adjacent toeach other within the heat exchanger 60. The gasifier tube 95 isconfigured so that the engine-driving work fluid is kept isolated fromthe slurry S. The working fluid powering engine 108 may be a variety offormulation, including, but not limited to, pure water, a recapturablerefrigerant, such as ammonia or Puron and the like.

Disposed inside the central heat absorption/transfer tube 200 is acontinuation of the waveguide charged permeable powdered metal andceramic matrix member 202. As shown in the section drawing of FIG. 2A,the central conductor of the heat rejection tube 200 interconnects thetwo wall-adjacent portions of the tube 200 in the section drawing. Inactual practice, the matrix 202 extends about the entire circumferenceof the changing cross-section gasifier tube. Preferably, member 202 iscapable of high electromagnetic energy absorption, while encounteringminimum reflection from the waveguide charged by magnetron 55. Members202 may also remain capable of repeated extreme thermal cycling withoutsignificant degradation of material properties, such as permanentpermeability, in order to act as an efficient conduit for thermal energyintroduced into the entire slurry S.

Microwave energy conducted through the absorption tube 200, effects aconversion of EM energy into thermal energy, rapidly heating anything incontact with, or inside, the tube 200. The tube 95 has a plurality ofperforations or slotted opening 97 through its outer walls 232. Theslotted openings 97 allow slurry S circulating thought the heatexchanger 60 to enter, remain, and gradually flow within the centralheat absorption/transfer tube 200. Since the slurry S has a directionalflow (imparted by slurry pump 65) from the integral slurry reservoirthrough the heat exchanger gasifier tube section 60 to the opposite endof the heat exchanger 60, slurry S circulates throughout tube 200 andwill flow directionally through absorption tube 200 until it can escapeback to the common reservoir of heated slurry through the slottedopenings 97 on the opposite side. This slow directional flow of highheat capacity slurry in constant contact with the walls of the gasifierenables the maximum amount of thermal energy dispersal into the regimeof the highly atomized working fluid. Slurry S that flows through theheat absorption tube 200 in this manner may be initially heated and thenremain heated for extended periods to temperatures between 1100 C to1300 C (the maximum temperature remaining below sintering threshold,whereupon the slurry charging matrix may coalesce into a solid, losingsome degree of it's desired permeability, E-M energy absorptioncapability, and further, the ability to transfer heat to the slurry).Inconel 718 or higher temperature capable grade superalloy is thepreferred material for gasifier tube 95 construction, as it maintainssufficient structural integrity to house the powdered metal and ceramicmatrix at or near sintering temperatures, while repeatedly performingit's role as a structured enclosure of geometry as a gasifier.

Microwave radiation has proven to be highly efficient at heatingpowdered metals. Thus, the powdered metal suspended in silicone oilsoffers the ability to flow through a heat exchanger and transfer heatenergy to the diffuser tube, while minimizing outgassing, and can bemaintained in a vacuum to improve retention of thermal energy, whilelimiting oxidation. It is contemplated that the slurry S can retainthese temperatures for a considerable duration once the microwave energyis removed from the waveguide.

Referring again to FIG. 3, working fluid originates in reservoir 80,which is connected to the working fluid supply high pressure pump 85,which, in turn, has an output connected to the heat exchanger 60. Asshown in FIG. 2B, high pressure pump 85 has a manifolded output, whichconnects to a pair of atomizer nozzles 210 a and 210 b disposedtangentially within opposing sidewalls 232 of each one of the gasifiertubes 95. The pump connection places atomizer nozzles 210 a and 210 b(and all succeeding nozzles plumbed in a plurality of gasifier tubes) ina commonly manifolded arrangement connecting to a pressure regulator 215having return line 216, and back to reservoir 80. The output line ofatomizer 210 b in FIG. 2A can be connected to a manifold capable offeeding the high pressure working fluid to remaining pairs of atomizers210 a and 210 b in remaining gasifier tubes 95, which comprise theworking fluid portion of the heat exchanger 60.

As shown in FIGS. 2A-2B, the atomizers 210 a and 210 b are disposed in aregion of sidewalls 232 above the lower conic section of the gasifiertube 95. The atomizers 210 a and 210 b may, alternatively, be disposedin the conic portion of the gasifier tube 95 at or below the geometrictransition of the gasifier tube 95, the location depending primarily onregion of pressure gradient advantage. Moreover, the nozzle orientationsof atomizers 210 a and 210 b are preferable non-coplanar with respect toeach other. The non-coplanar orientation of the atomizers 210 a and 210b may be provided to facilitate a spiraling action of working fluidfinely atomized spray/steam around central coincident conductor tube200, to maximize the time in contact with the highest temperature regimeof the gasifier tube.

During motor (non-charging) operations of the device 50, the combinationof the high thermal energy of slowly circulating slurry S in gasifiertube 200 and pressure differential created by Bernoulli tube 95 actingupon the spray mist of working fluid ejected from the atomizers 210 aand 210 b creates a rapid phase change of the working fluid from liquidphase to a steam/vapor phase. The steam/working gas can be manifoldedfrom the gasifier tubes 95 by a computer controlled ingress/egressoutput manifold that takes working gas from the dome of the heatexchanger and feeds a high pressure steam output line 100. In this way,the working gas can be momentarily stored during periods of decelerationor braking of the vehicle, and a recirculation valve may be employed toreheat or superheat unused or underutilized output working gas. The highpressure steam in output line 100 is ultimately fed to the engine 108.While the engine 108 can be a variety of designs, including but notlimited to, a turbine engine or the like, preferably, the engine 108, asshown in FIG. 1, has a closed, triple-expansion, reciprocatingconfiguration utilizing a Rankine cycle to do work based on adiabaticexpansion of the working medium in the engine 108.

The system in engine 108 may be open if water is used as the workingfluid, or completely closed (sealed) if a suitable convertible fluid isused that can be recaptured indefinitely (Freon/Puron). As shown in FIG.1, the engine 108 is a V-8 configuration, having opposing cylinder head112 and opposing cylinder bores disposed therein (and within thecylinder block of engine 108). Designated as C1, C2, and C3. CylindersC1 have a low volume, high pressure bore, Cylinders C2 have a mediumvolume, medium pressure bore, and Cylinders C3 have a high volume, lowpressure bore. Thus, the configuration offers increasing bore and/orstroke in opposed pairs. The high pressure steam output line 100connects to the first set of bores C1. The C1 (high pressure) bores mayincorporate additional waveguide-fed matrix and slurry locationsintegral to their chamber heads in order to effect/promote and sustainsuperheat status of certain eligible working fluid(s) in closestmechanical proximity to the expansion phase.

As shown in FIG. 1, the C1 bores have insulated steam outlet portsconnecting to the C2 bores, and the C2 bores have steam outlet portsconnecting to the C3 bores. Under electromechanical and/or computercontrol (e.g., computer and electronically controlled square-wavepulse-activated high degree-of-atomization nozzles, in combination withmechanically controlled cam-action poppet valves), when pistons P in theC1 bores have completed a power stroke, intermediate pressure steam ispermitted to escape via steam outlet to drive pistons P in the C2 bores.Subsequently, when the pistons P in the C2 bores have completed theirpower stroke, lower pressure steam is permitted to escape via steamoutlet to drive pistons P in the C3 bores, and when pistons P in the C3bores have finished their power stroke, the low pressure work medium isexhausted to return line 105 a. Basic aspects of the triple expansionengine 108 have long been understood by those of ordinary skill in theart.

As is known by one of ordinary skill in the art, the reciprocatingmotion of the pistons P is transmitted to a crankshaft, which ultimatelypowers differential 310 for rotational motion of the vehicle wheels. Theprecisely controlled timing of steam power through reciprocating engine108 is accomplished by a set of electrical solenoid or variable timingcamshaft actuated poppet valves 92 connected to computer 40 via controllines 91. Common, split, or multiple camshafts can control the entirepoppet valve inlet and egress system, which may incorporate methods ofvariable timing of poppet valve events to achieve localized performanceenhancements, such as may be offered by these variations.

As shown in FIG. 3, the return line 105 a is routed back to the heatexchanger 60 where the medium can be preheated for another cycle of flowthrough the heat exchanger 60. The preheated working medium is thenrouted via line 105 b to condenser 110. Output of condenser 110 isrouted via continuation of line 105 b back to the reservoir 80. Thecontrol computer 40 has a control connection to the heat exchanger 60 inorder to precisely control atomization flow (typically square wave pulsewidth) provided to the atomizers 210 a and 210 b, as well as to performother functions related to functions of the heat exchanger 60.

The atomizers 210 a and 210 b are controlled by computer 40 so that onlythe minimum necessary amount of working gas is produced based onreal-time evaluation of current need (throttle position versus loadcalculation). Producing the gas near-instantaneously on a need-onlybasis allows for significantly reduced consumption of the thermal energystored in the slurry. Computer 40 can accept inputs from a variety ofsensors disposed in the system in order to make the executive commanddecisions required to achieve the objective of the on-demand vapor/steamsupply.

Preferably, computer 40 is a digital convertible fluid injection (DCVI),and is capable of accurately addressing the pulse width of the liquidatomization nozzles 210 a and 210 b in the heat exchanger 60, as well asthe pulse width of the solenoid operated poppet valves 92 in the inletof engine 108. For example, computer 90 can take a reading of theexhaust gas pressure and temperature, and loop it back to thegas-producing nozzle pulse width. Hence, the device is both load anddemand (acceleration or deceleration) sensitive to real time.

Sensors could be added to read inlet (liquid) feed temperature andpressure (from feed pump), working gas temperature and pressure in theplenum/dome, load encountered, condition desired(accelerate/decelerate/stop/reverse), mean effective pressure in any ofthe cylinders (high/medium/low pressure) to vary the timing of poppetvalve events through such mechanism as described (mechanical systems:multiple cam/articulating rocker arm stanchions/lobe advance or retardmechanism. Digitally controlled electrical systems may includesolenoid-activated poppet valves). Precise event timing control (DCVIcomputerized nozzles, as well as poppet valve events) is desirable asthe slurry S gradually and continuously loses temperature to the workingfluid as the working fluid transitions to working gas. The longest rangeis available when only the precise and minimum amount of gas is producedto meet the load and condition requirements.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the case of enroute recharging, a buried smartrail conductor 405 that is basically flush with a road surface R may beutilized, either by direct contact (brush/roller) or by inductivecoupling, to provide the electrical energy necessary to operate themicrowave generator 55 or charge a supercapacitor to fire the magnetron55 when desired board the vehicle V. The rail is segmented by insulationand can powered by any existing power grid from which (preferably)rectified DC current can be obtained. Each segment can be fed by a solidstate, e.g., transistor or SCR circuit, whereby the high current onlyflows to the particular segment when the associated gating circuit isenergized.

The gate of each semiconductor can be actuated by an inductively coupledor otherwise induced discrete signal from the vehicle V directly aboveit, thereby allowing the smart rail 405 to remain safe from lethalcontact with accidentally contact by humans, animals, or the like.Segments 405 may be of a length only sufficient for a conductingcondition while the vehicle V needing the recharge is directly above it,thereby shielding the rail 405 from accidental contact. As such, railsegments 405 conduct only in response to an induced signal from above,which can come from several sources, such as a coil 410 inducting thetrigger (gating) current, or an ultrasound device, or a laser signal, orany other device that can perform the task of momentarily (locally)charging the gate of a main power transistor or SCR, which connects thehigh current power grid to the segmented rail 405, forcing it toconduct. Once the vehicle V has passed beyond a particular energized oneof the segments 405, the smart rail 405 returns to a nonconducting andthoroughly (safe) condition.

The smart rail 405 may be accessed to charge the on-board microwavegenerator OBMWG 55 directly, or to charge a supercapacitor that canstore the charge and supply it to the OBMWG 55 whenever desired ornecessary.

The signal that suggests the smart rail conductor 405 may eventually becapable of discrete operation, whereby the information of which distinctvehicle V is drawing power from the rail can be recorded and used forenergy billing purposes. The smart rail system 405 allows a commuter theability to access the smart rail 405 if in need of a recharge (and havethe energy transfer recorded), or pass over it with no energy transfer.

The smart rail 405 may be an ideal enroute recharging mechanism for avariety of vehicles utilizing some form of electrical or chemical energyas a means of propulsion, and may be incorporated into existing highwayswhile remaining unobtrusive, safe, and non-interfering with theoperation of existing technology vehicles.

With respect to utilizing the inventive Rankine engine in the context ofan electrical grid co-generation facility, a need has been articulatedfor electrical energy storage for the power grid, such as to releasestored excess energy produced in off hours and employ it convenientlyduring peak periods of usage, thus alleviating said peaks and brownouts.Additionally, electricity produced from wind, solar, optical, geothermalor tidal sources may fluctuate in intensity, and hence a storage systemfor power grid energy would be advantageous to reduce or eliminate thesepower production fluctuations.

The inventive Microwave-Rankine cycle engine 108 could be used to storethe energy into a form of thermal energy, and release it upon demand viaa conventional or novel Rankine cycle expander. The microwave-Rankinecycle has been recently described as a “capacitive” function ifdescribed in the formally descriptive terms of Classical Circuit Theory,it has a cavity magnetron 55 coupled permanently to what is called apermanently permeable matrix (PPM) consisting of a porous powderedsemi-sintered (necking only) superalloy of relatively small gradientsize, typically Inconel®, sandwiched and again sintered between evenmore highly porous superalloy foam matrix material or highly poroussinterment of larger gradient powder, which may include powderedceramics as well as sacrificial constituents such as lithium stearatethat may be subsequently leeched out after sintering to preciselycontrol the porosity of the sinterment. Thus, the PPM begins at or evenmore precisely within the mouth of the waveguide, may have a surface ofspecialized geometry (tetrahedral) tuned by height to some multiple orheterodyne of the microwave frequency to assist electromagnetic energyto efficiently enter the PPM and propagate instantly to a heat retentiveslurry co-located within a resonant cavity formed around an efficientheat exchange mechanism.

The porous powdered material is typically introduced into the end of thewaveguide, typically as a multiple tetrahegonal or pyramid shape, withthe walls matching the wavelength, or some multiple of the wavelength,of the microwave generator, usually (but of course not limited to) SBand 2.45 gig or L band 915 mhz.; both would be most commonlyapplicable. The PPM at the waveguide is of a fine gradient, sintered tosphere-to-sphere necking but not to complete coalescence, creating anengineered level, degree, or percentage of porosity. In the case ofmicrowave energy absorption, the key aspect is cumulative surface area,thus the smaller the spherical size of the powder, the more surface areaper cubic inch of material. This finer grade of PPM extends from themouth of the waveguide into the resonant cavity, where it is sandwichedvia further sintering operations to what is referred to as metal foam,which can be as great as 85-95% porous. The powdered superalloy istypically in the 40-45% porous range where it exits the waveguide.

The magnetron is always kept in tune with the load via automated stubtuning, tuning stubs changing length in response to the VSWR curvecaused by warming of the slurry, which is actively monitored and fedback into the tuning stub actuation mechanism consisting of rack/piniondriving miniature electric motors under computer algorithmic control.

PPM with co-located slurry thus becomes a permanently tuned antenna ormore precisely, a dummy load for the magnetron, thus relieving theslowly ramping coupling curve associated with using microwave energy toheat a bath of molten salt or saltpetre (the default thermal storagemedia). In applications where PPM is not present as the third element ofthe device, coupling between microwave energy and salt is temperaturedependent, coupling is slow to initiate until such time as the salt haswarmed considerably, at which point coupling increases along a curve.This is highly disadvantageous to the mechanism as a whole, whereimmediate coupling is desirable. The PPM acts as the primary agent ofrelatively instantaneous microwave energy-to-slurry coupling, in concertwith the computerized stub tuning continually maintaining the VSWR atlow levels.

Initial research (discovery) has been done to potentially improve thethermal diffusivity of various media in order to outperform defaultmolten salt/saltpetre, by increasing the likelihood of frequency ofelectron collisions, particularly outer valance electrons, through thetheoretical mechanism of the outward facing quark charge, as conjecturedherein, affecting the probability of electron location.

This theoretical “discovery” regarding the mention of “outward facingquark charge” in the text above, is with respect to engineeredindustrial chemistry of advanced thermal diffusivity characteristics.Taking into account Heisenberg's uncertainty dilemma, a means ofresolving some measure of uncertainty is propose by considering thecharges of the three quark model that make up the particle's protons andneutrons.

The standard model states that, among numerous characteristics, these UPand DOWN quarks have charges of +⅔ and −⅓ respectively, with protonsconsisting of two UP and one DOWN quark, while neutrons consist of oneUP and two DOWN quarks. By simple addition the charge of a proton is +1(matching the atom's electrons-i charge on a one-to-one ratio), and acharge of zero in the neutron.

However, it should be considered that these fractions in thirds arerepeating endlessly. Hence in real terms it may be considered thatenergy levels may indeed force the issue one way or the other, indecimal terms to resolve the fractions up or down on (at least) theirlast decimal place. That being postulated, it is straightforward topostulate that the quark-to-quark charge may decide to rebalance itselfelectrically, by means of free rotation of the three quark modelinternal to the particles proton and neutron, whose position does notchange. Given that the three quark make-up is considered to be free torotate, than a rebalance between quarks can always be maintained simplyby rotation relative to each other. If that can be postulated to occur,then the result is that the quarks facing outside the nucleus are now ofdifferent charge, if an UP quark in the Proton is now more attracted toa DOWN quark in the neutron, and the three quark models in each particleare free to rotate to rebalance themselves, than the outward facingquark charges are now different than they were, thus effecting theelectron location.

Thus, it is logical to consider that freely rotating/rebalancing threequark models internal to protons and neutrons thus face outward of thenucleus differing charges based on the degree of rotation of the quarks,and these outward facing quark charges may logically directly affect theelectron location probability. As to whether or not this mechanism istruly at work, it still gives one a tool to begin designing quantummechanically engineered compounds. For example, in the case of thermaldiffusivity studies on the Sodium atom electron collisions are the chiefsource of the element Sodium to retain heat for long periods of time. Ifone can further understand the electron location probability through thesimple mechanism of outward facing quark charge, one may be able todesign industrial chemistry to take advantage of these perhaps enhancedlevels of probability, thus engineering more collisions of electrons,and improving thermal diffusivity above the default media of molten saltor saltpetre.

At certain precise energy levels it may prove possible to definitelyincrease this likelihood of electron collisions, by forcing electronsinto higher likelihood of position probability, thus increasing orengineering the “opportunity for collisions” and thus theoreticallyincreasing the thermal diffusivity of the slurry material.

Magnetrons and PPM might be divided into segmented ceramic tubes, highlyinsulated with Aerogel style insulation, feeding a common (at somelevel) thermal reservoir of some magnitude of volume, this arrangementallows the thermal storage to be segregated by input power, the attemptis to get the slurry up to temperature rapidly (1300-1450 F) using thestub tuned matching networks, then adding magnetrons and PPMincrementally (in segregated ceramic tubes) to bring additional moltensalt or quantum modified HTD (high thermal diffusivity) slurry up totemperature, until such time as the entire reservoir may be held athighly elevated temperature. This segregation allows various levels ofenergy storage, like a multi-cell battery, each PPM tube or cellcontributing to the overall, but not creating a situation where theentire slurry cell is always common, whereby relatively low input energycreates a relatively useless (thermally diluted) large volume of lowtemperature slurry.

Heated slurry then can be readily used to perform work, particularly inthe form of Rankine cycle expansion, as has been described in co-pendingU.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/149,670 incorporated by reference inits entirety herein. Multiple expansion Rankine reciprocating withoptional pressure exchange for auto/truck/aircraft), emulated turbinedevices driving superconducting alternators (ideally), however,obviously the slurry can power (through heat exchangers providinggasification of a working fluid) conventional Rankine expanders likebladed turbines driving conventional generators.

The emulated turbine is a device based upon the novel three elementpressure exchanger with airfoil blades transposed along their chordlines, forming continuously devolving but relatively finite volumechambers, instead of the high-gas-throughput inherent to theconventional bladed multi-stage turbine. The conventional bladedturbine, a takeoff of the water wheel, is highly wasteful of workinggas, in either Brayton or Rankine cycles. Reciprocating devices havereversals in motion and higher internal friction, although they aresomewhat more economical of working gas, particularly when insulatedwith zirconia plasma-applied thermal barrier coatings on all exposedsurfaces, piston tops, valve heads, cylinder walls, and inside ports.The drawbacks to reciprocals are the inherent exponential volumeincrease as pistons move downwards in individual cylinders, highfriction due primarily to piston rings but include valve springs andlubrication induced viscous drag among others.

Emulated turbines can offer the same thermal barrier applicationpossibilities, while keeping the controlled expanding volume of thecontra-rotating formed chambers to a more manageable condition, this canbe accomplished through a multi-axis (linear) movement of the alreadycontra rotating concentric drums that continually form and reform thedevolving chambers. Devolving chambers can thus be fed working gassegmentally, depending on precise torque requirements, this allows thechambers to remain at peak thermal insulative capacity, unlike a bladedturbine wherein any lessening of volume or temperature of impinging gaslowers the temperature (and thus efficiency) of the turbinesubstantially. These drawbacks make the bladed turbine most efficientonly at high and steady maintained torque producing output, they do notthrottle efficiently, and are not thermally efficient at less than idealtorque outputs. The individualized constantly devolving chambers of theemulated turbine can be segregated as to input of working gas, and thusthe efficiency remains high at all levels of torque output.

Working gas is produced in the heat exchange portion of the largethermal (slurry) reservoir. Recall that slurry is co-located with PPM,the porous PPM is inundated in slurry, and heats slurry quickly throughrather instantaneous coupling to the microwave generator (cavitymagnetrons) Slurry surrounds gasifier tubes, which are geometricallyadvantageous (for improved gasification) of a Rankine working fluid, ofwhich water can be readily used in power grid storage/production.

The document herein thoroughly describes an exemplary Rankinemulti-expansion reciprocating expander side portion of the device, inwhich case the gasifier tubes can be integral to the expander, allowingshort path recirculation, multi-path superheating, stage-to-stagere-pass through the heat exchanger, and pressure exchange from high (HP)to low (LP) stages using conventional (straight longitudinalsemi-circular concave multiple channel on rotating drum withvalved/ported stationary end plates) or the novel three element pressureexchanger with stator section.

Moreover, disclosed herein is a direct working gas producing magnetron,formed with a lens mechanism that allows microwave energy heated (toincandescence) fine metal powder, continuously circulating through thelens, this powder is mixed with finely atomized working fluid within thelens, where it transfers heat directly to atomized working fluid, thenis returned endlessly to the powder reservoir via electromagneticdeflection. Microwave energy is readily absorbed by small gradientpowder, due to its relatively huge combined surface area, whereasmicrowave energy heats water directly by bipolar stimulation, thiseffect is highly inefficient in the production of large quantities ofsuperheated working gas. The heated powder, superalloy or ceramicmaterial transfers heat instantly to highly atomized fluid within thelens, which is formed adjacent to the magnetron, or indeed integral tothe magnetron. Thus both dipolar heating as well as direct conductiveheating from incandescent powder occur simultaneously within the lens.Atomization can be improved with piezo-electric diaphragm injectornozzles that break up already fine working fluid spray into pure fog,these special ultrasonically atomizing injector nozzles would be highlyadvantageous in various applications, not strictly Rankine cycleapplications.

The direct gas producing magnetron, with mixing lens, is convenient tomaintain operating temperature and lower torque rotation of the Rankineexpander, particularly an expander as described whereby the input gascan be effectively throttled, i.e. where the expansion events arediscernable one from another, either in individual cylinders, ordevolving chambers, more so perhaps than in standard issue turbines thatrequire such massive volumes of working gas. These gas producing lensedmagnetrons could be coupled to individual inlets of reciprocatingdevices or discretionary chambers of an emulated turbine device, thuskeeping rotation of the expander underway. At all times, the currentsupplied to the rotating field of the alternator would be coupled to theavailable torque production of the lensed magnetrons, when overpeakpower exists, and when underpeak conditions come into play the thermalbatch of salt as described earlier is added to the total working gasproduction mix through the novel three element heat exchange mechanism,i.e., magnetron, PPM, heated slurry, working gas production system, asdescribed herein and in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/149,670.

The uniqueness of this system is thus based on custom versions ofmicrowave producing devices which include the inventive magnetron-to-PPMstuffed waveguide that instantly couples microwave energy to apermanently permeable porous matrix that is imbedded in the heatretentive slurry, be it saltpetre or novel advanced quantum mechanicallydefined chemistry of higher thermal diffusivity, or more simply quantummechanically engineered industrial chemistry. The automated stub tuningkeeps the VSWR low across the spectrum of potential slurry condition,from nearly solidified to 1450 F (for molten salt). The direct gasproducing magnetron with lens as described herein can also be employedto maintain a liquid condition of the molten salt (keeping it abovesolidification temperature). This would be readily accomplished bydirecting the gas through heat exchange tubing through the energystoring vat of slurry on its way to the expander where it maintainstemperature and some measure of rotation of the expander/alternator(generator). The aim here is to maintain the slurry within a range oftemperature that equates to manageable VSWR range, a range that beaccommodated by the automated stub tuning. Thus, when over-peak power isavailable from the power grid, the device is immediately ready forenergy storage, the slurry is liquid, and the expander is turning overand at sufficient temperature to ensure proper sealing and adequateinternal lubrication.

With respect to magnetron tube 55, the goal of using a directgasification magnetron is to create a vortex of incandescent powdermixed homogeneously with finely atomized vapor admitted through highpressure atomizing nozzles. The powder, typically a superalloy withsufficient ferritic component to be influenced by magnetic fields,absorbs microwave energy directly due to its relatively huge combinedsurface area, and transfers heat efficiently to the atomized workingfluid. The working fluid can even be further atomized in a combinationtype nozzle, such as one that combines a piezo-electric disperserelement along with the multiple tiny exit passages in the nozzle tip.

The lens can be formed as a helix, with powder fed from a reservoir intoa blower arrangement consisting of compressed gas or air, the powder canbe fed by gravity, pressure, or picked up via suction like the widevariety of existing media spraying apparatus. Fed into the helicalvortexer under considerable pressure, the vortexer forms a resonantcavity that transfers microwave energy to the powder/atomized workingfluid combination, instantly gasifying the fluid within the short areaof the lens. The lens exit might be a charged screen matrix, whichreadily passes the superheated gas while redirecting the powder back toits reservoir. The possible helical arrangement of the vortexer might beuseful to helping to aim the powder in an advantageous direction alongwith the electromagnetic steering of powder, which might be accomplishedvia electromagnetic coil or even as part of a high voltage flybacktransformer arrangement to facilitate powder/particle steering out ofthe produced gas stream and back to its reservoir from where it isendlessly recycled.

The helical nature of this resonant cavity may be as simple as winding ahollow tube of some diameter into a tight helix, i.e., no space betweenthe windings, and then boring the center of the tube out to reveal ahelical track within which the pressurized powder rotates along as ifwithin a hollow screw thread. This vortexing activity prolongs the timethat the powder is exposed to the microwave energy, and absorbs thisenergy instantly, typically more rapidly than the atomized working fluidalone can absorb this energy through traditional dipolar means. Onepowder reservoir can be situated so as to feed a multiplicity ofgasifying magnetrons, this is advantageous when these direct gasproducing magnetrons are disposed about an expander operating typicallyon the Rankine cycle.

Resonant cavities like the vortexing lens are of course determined bylength and diameter/volume as some function of wavelength, and somemultiple or heterodyne of said wavelength. The exit screening of thecavity might incorporate sufficient electromagnetic charge as to renderit relatively opaque to microwave energy escape, this lens exit can beso construed as to form a constricted outlet that only higher pressurefully superheated gas may force its exit from the lens through thisconstriction, the constriction may be as simple as a spring loadedpoppet or ball seated on a cone. In cases where it might occur thatmicrowave energy wishes to escape this resonant cavity through its onlypermissible exit, the poppet arrangement can be so constructed as to thepoppet body having vanes instead or pointed nose or round. The vanes canextend fully into mirrored hollow vanes in the poppet valve body, thusforming a labyrinth that may be impervious to microwave energy escapebut able to pass high pressure working gas. Gas would escape through thelabyrinth so formed, when the vaned poppet is lifted from its seat, butwhile the vanes are still engaged with the mirrored hollow vanes formingthe labyrinth. Thus what is disclosed is a labyrinthian exit structurefor a pressurized resonant cavity in which high pressure superheated gasmay be readily produced via microwave energy.

Properly designed, the labyrinthian vaned poppet and mirroredlabyrinthian seat may allow the powder to escape through thelabyrinthian arrangement clearance so disposed radially about the poppetin multiplicity, while effectively trapping the microwave energy withinthe resonant cavity. Thus the exit lens of the direct gas producingmagnetron is formed so as to promote mixing of gas and charged powder,perhaps via a helical arrangement such as a hollow screw thread. Thishelical chamber be constructed to the dimensions necessary to act asresonant cavity of proper volume to minimize VSWR. Charged powder actsto transfer heat directly to highly atomized gas from high pressureatomizing nozzle, including the option of piezo-electric ultrasonicdispersion of working vapor. Powder runs in an endless cycle fromreservoir to lens and back. Powder is directed out of the produced gasstream via electromagnetic field and labyrinthian poppet. Labyrinthianpoppet assembly is opaque to microwave energy while passing bothsuperheated working gas and powder back to its reservoir.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to theembodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodimentswithin the scope of the following claims.

1. A Rankine engine with efficient heat exchange system, comprising: avapor phase change engine connected to electrical production means; anenergy storage heat exchanger; an energy source proximate the heatexchanger, wherein the energy source includes a waveguide networkconnected to the energy source; a high operating temperature slurrycapable of rapid heating under electromagnetic microwave energy exposureand being capable of retaining the high temperature for a substantialduration, whereby the waveguide network guides energy from the energysource to the slurry; means for circulating the slurry in a closed loopwithin the heat exchanger; a working fluid; means for circulating theworking fluid through the heat exchanger to pick up sufficient heatcontent from the slurry in order to change phase to a high pressurevapor/steam; and means for directing the high pressure vapor/steam to aninlet of the engine in order to operate the engine; whereby electricitycan be produced under vapor/steam power from stored heat energy in theslurry until the slurry temperature cools down to a temperatureineffective to cause the work fluid to vaporize.
 2. A Rankine enginewith efficient heat exchange system, comprising: a vapor phase changeengine mechanically coupled to an electrical generator that suppliespower to a power grid; an energy storage heat exchanger operablyconnected to the vapor phase change engine 1 the heat exchangerincluding a permeable powdered metal-ceramic matrix disposed within theheat exchanger; an energy source proximate the heat exchanger, whereinthe energy source includes a waveguide network connected to the energysource a high operating temperature slurry capable of rapid heatingunder electromagnetic microwave energy exposure and being capable ofretaining the high temperature for a substantial duration, whereby thewaveguide network guides energy from the energy source to the slurry andthe matrix is coincident to the slurry, the matrix accelerating theheating of the slurry when the energy is applied; a slurry pumpcirculating the slurry in a closed loop within the heat exchanger; aworking fluid; a working fluid pump circulating the working fluidthrough the heat exchanger to pick up sufficient heat content from theslurry in order to change phase to a high pressure vapor/steam; and ahigh pressure steam output line directing the high pressure vapor/steamto an inlet of the engine in order to operate the engine; whereby thegenerator can be actuated under vapor/steam power from stored heatenergy in the slurry until the slurry temperature cools down to atemperature ineffective to cause the work fluid to vaporize.
 3. TheRankine engine according to claim 2, wherein the electromagnetic energyexposure comprises: a microwave energy source proximate the heatexchanger.
 4. The Rankine engine according to claim 2, furthercomprising: manifolded high pressure output lines extending from theworking fluid pump; and a plurality of gasifier tubes proximate the heatexchanger, the gasifier tubes receiving high pressure fluid from themanifolded high pressure output lines, the gasifier tubes outputting arapid phase change of the working fluid from liquid to the high pressurevapor steam/vapor.
 5. The Rankine engine according to claim 4, furthercomprising: output manifolds disposed on the gasifier tubes; and acomputer operably connected to the gasifier output manifolds, thecomputer modulating the high pressure vapor steam/vapor to the engineinlet.
 6. The Rankine engine according to claim 4, further comprisingatomizers disposed within the gasifiers, the atomizers atomizing highpressure fluid at the inputs to the gasifiers.
 7. The Rankine engineaccording to claim 6, further comprising a plurality of waveguidecontinuation tubes disposed within the gasifier tubes, the continuationtubes centrally conducting thermal energy about an axis through whichatomized working fluid is dispersed by the atomizers, wherein atomizedworking fluid is exposed to the maximum possible area of heat exchangerwall surface area to promote efficient heat transfer to the workingfluid.
 8. The Rankine engine according to claim 4, wherein the gasifiertubes are disposed in a housing of the heat exchanger.
 9. The Rankineengine according to claim 4, wherein the gasifier tubes are made from ahigh grade, high temperature capable superalloy, the gasifier tubesmaintaining structural integrity at sintering temperatures.
 10. TheRankine engine according to claim 7, wherein a first atomizer within agasifier tube is disposed in a non coplanar manner with respect to asecond atomizer disposed in the same gasifier tube, the non-coplanaratomizers facilitating a spiraling action of working fluid finelyatomized spray/steam around the central coincident conductor tube,thereby maximizing the time in contact with a highest temperature regimeof the gasifier tube.
 11. The Rankine engine according to claim 2,wherein the engine has a closed, triple-expansion, reciprocatingconfiguration utilizing the Rankine cycle to do work based on adiabaticexpansion of the working medium in the engine.
 12. The Rankine engineaccording to claim 2, further comprising an engine control computer, theengine control computer controlling a set of inlet and outlet valves ofthe engine, thereby precisely controlling timing of steam power throughthe engine.
 13. The Rankine engine according to claim 12, furthercomprising a control line forming an interconnection between the enginecontrol computer and the atomizers, the engine control computercontrolling the atomizers via the interconnection, wherein only theminimum necessary amount of working gas is produced based on real-timeevaluation of current throttle position versus a load calculationcomputed by the engine control computer.
 14. The Rankine engineaccording to claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic energy source ismicrowave.
 15. The Rankine engine according to claim 1, furthercomprising a permeable powdered metal/ceramic matrix disposed within theheat exchanger and coincident to the slurry, the matrix accelerating theheating of the slurry when the electromagnetic energy is applied. 16.The Rankine engine according to claim 2, wherein the electromagneticenergy source is microwave.
 17. The Rankine engine according to claim 3,further comprising: a resonant cavity formed around said heat exchanger;and said slurry being co-located within said resonant cavity.
 18. TheRankine engine according to claim 17 further comprising: a permeablepowdered metal/ceramic matrix (PPM) disposed within the heat exchangerand coincident to the slurry, the matrix accelerating the heating of theslurry when the microwave energy is applied, said PPM having atetrahedral geometry tuned by height to a multiple or heterodyne of afrequency of said microwave energy source.
 19. The Rankine engineaccording to claim 18 wherein said PPM has a high surface area to volumeratio so that a high end porosity of said PPM is as high asapproximately ninety five percent at an entry point of said waveguidenetwork.
 20. The Rankine engine according to claim 19 wherein saidmicrowave energy source includes means for tuning said microwave energysource responsive to a voltage standing wave ratio caused by warming ofsaid slurry.
 21. The Rankine engine according to claim 20 furthercomprising: means for dividing a plurality of said microwave energysource and said PPM into segmented ceramic tubes feeding a commonthermal reservoir; and means for incrementally adding power from saidplurality of said microwave energy source to bring said slurry up to apredefined operating temperature.
 22. The Rankine engine according toclaim 20 further comprising means for emulating a turbine device drivenby said Rankine engine.
 23. The Rankine engine according to claim 20wherein said microwave energy source is a magnetron.
 24. The Rankineengine according to claim 23 further comprising: means forelectromagnetic deflection of said working fluid; means for heating saidPPM to incandescence wherein said PPM is mixed with finely atomizedworking fluid thereby transferring heat directly to atomized workingfluid and returning said working fluid endlessly to a reservoir via saidmeans for electromagnetic deflection.
 25. The Rankine engine accordingto claim 24 further comprising: a resonant cavity formed by said meansfor heating said PPM to incandescence; and means for trapping saidmicrowave energy inside said resonant cavity while still allowing saidPPM to flow through said cavity.
 26. The Rankine engine according toclaim 23 further comprising: means for adding energy to said slurry whensupply of said power grid exceeds demand required of said power grid;and means for rapidly actuating said electric generator to provideelectrical power to said power grid when demand required of said powergrid exceeds supply of said power grid.
 27. The Rankine engine accordingto claim 23, further comprising: manifolded high pressure output linesextending from the working fluid pump; and a plurality of gasifier tubesproximate the heat exchanger, the gasifier tubes receiving high pressurefluid from the manifolded high pressure output lines, the gasifier tubesoutputting a rapid phase change of the working fluid from liquid to thehigh pressure vapor steam/vapor.
 28. The Rankine engine according toclaim 27, further comprising atomizers disposed within the gasifiers,the atomizers atomizing high pressure fluid at the inputs to thegasifiers.
 29. The Rankine engine according to claim 28, wherein saidgasifiers further comprise nozzles that combine piezo-electric disperserelements along with multiple tiny exit passages in tips of said nozzles.